Hulaku returned to Tabriz and made great
preparations for vengeance, but matters were apparently never carried
further. Hence Polo's is anything but an accurate account of the matter.
The following extract from Wassaf's History, referring to this war, is a
fine sample of that prince of rigmarole:
"In the winter of 662 (A.D. 1262-1263) when the Almighty Artist had
covered the River of Derbend with plates of silver, and the Furrier of the
Winter had clad the hills and heaths in ermine; the river being frozen
hard as a rock to the depth of a spear's length, an army of Mongols went
forth at the command of Barka Aghul, filthy as Ghuls and Devils of the
dry-places, and in numbers countless as the rain-drops," etc. etc.
(Golden Horde, p. 163 seqq.; Ilchan. I. 214 seqq.; Q.R. p. 393
seqq.; Q. Makrizi, I. 170; Hammer's Wassaf, p. 93.)
CHAPTER XXVI.
HOW BARCA AND HIS ARMY ADVANCED TO MEET ALAU.
<+>(Barca advances with 350,000 horse, encamps on the plain within 10
miles of Alau; addresses his men, announcing his intention of fighting
after 3 days, and expresses his confidence of success as they are in the
right and have 50,000 men more than the enemy.)
CHAPTER XXVII.
HOW ALAU ADDRESSED HIS FOLLOWERS.
<+>(Alau calls together "a numerous parliament of his worthies"[1] and
addresses them.)
[1] "Il asemble encore sez parlemant de grand quantites des buens homes."
CHAPTER XXVIII.
